This has been this way for a long time, never redeem more than 100,000 per person at one time.
The apparent new rules are on the one time 50,000 redemption and that the fact the points can only go on the person whose name is on the card. All couples living at the same address need to call Gold Points and change to a household account.
1-800-508-9000 - option 9 to talk to an agent.